Improvement in locks



G. S. SNELL.

Lock.

No. 206,633. Patented my 3o, 187s.

INV'E l mm.

ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE S. SNELL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 206,633, dated July 30, 1875; application filed June 1, 1878.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE STOTHART SNELL, of St. Louis, in the county of St. Louis and State ot' Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Gravitating-Lock, otl which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to furnish a simple and reliable door and safe lock in which no springs are used, but the bolt, tumblers, and necessary catches are actuated by the force of their own gravity.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of the various parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l represents a plan View of the interior of a lock constructed according to my invention and in the unlocked position. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same, taken on the line w a: of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same in the position locked.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Ais the bolt, being a metallic segment, pivoted to the easing or lock-plate B by the pin b forward of its own center of gravity, in such a manner that, when not held back by turning the knob b', its inner or rear end will preponderate, causing the front end, (or bolt proper a, to protrude through the casing B in the position ofbeing locked, as in Fig. 3.

The tail end al is formed with concentric circle curves, drawn from the pin b as a. center, and projects from the body of the segmental bolt A, as shown in the drawings.

O is the usual hub, tted upon the square spindle of the knob b', and provided with the toe or cam c, entering a U-shaped or V-shaped or similar opening, a2, in the back of the bolt A, for oscillating the latter' upon its pivot between the two positions locked 4and unlocked.

D is one or more of a series of tumblers of similar shape, but unequal length, making it necessary to use a key, G, having notches at the proper width and distances apart, ot' the exact depth to correspond with the dierences in length between the tumblers D, in order to enable them to be raised uniformly and simultaneously, with their similar edges iiush or coinciding.

Each tumbler D has a deep notch, d, corresponding in size with the tail al of the bolt A, which enters the said notch when the front end, a, is withdrawn to unlock. The depth of the notch d should correspond with the dis tance at which the bolt proper, a, protrudes from the case B in locking.

In thc front edge, at the upper end, of each tumbler is a small notch, d. The tumblers` are placed side to side, covering each other, with their similar edges flush, and are keptin the same relative position, not only when being raised by the proper key for unlocking, but also when allowed to drop for locking, in which latter case they are stopped in the proper position by and suspended upon a pin, c, secured to the casing B.

The tumblers D are guided to slide vertically in a rectilinear motion by and between the pin e and the edge of the casing B, or by a slot upon the two pins e c2, as shown in the drawing.

E is a catch-block, castwith hubs c1 on opposite sides upon it, by which hubs it is pivoted in holes in the casing B, in front of the notches d', and is provided with a tooth or catch, a, arranged to enter the said notches d (when they are brought opposite to the said catch yn) by being raised by the preponderance of the weighted end fw of the block E acting on the side of the fulcrinn el opposite to the catch n. The block E has a thickness equal to the thicknesses of all the tumblers D together, and is capable ot' sustaining their combined weight elevated upon the catch a.

When the tumblers D are raised by turning the key G against their lower edges, the catch u enters the notch or row of notches d', and the weighted end 1c of the block E keeps the tumblers suspended in such a position that the deep notch d, or row of notches, comes in line with the tail al ot' the bolt A, and in position to be entered by the latter, thus allowing the bolt A to be oscillated on the pivot b by the toe c, to withdraw the bolt proper, (l, by turning the ordinary knob b in the direcof the arrow. On releasing the hold oi' the knob the front end, a, is again projected by the weight of the bolt A.

To secure the bolt in the said or locked position, the extreme three-cornered or otherwise shaped end r/ otl the key G is in erted into the eorrespoildingly-slmped hole or socket fin either ofthe hubs c', und the key turned suiciently to bring' thc catch n out ot' the row otl notches d and allow the tulnblers l) to drop by their own weight until they Stop and rest upon the piu c. In this position the lower notch, d, will be below the bolt-tuilu, und the latter brought in contact with the solid front edge of the row ot'tun1ble1s,us in Fig'. .7 thus preventing the bolt from being' withdrawn to unlock until all the tlunblerbl ure equally und simultaneously raised by the exact proper key.

Hoving thus described my invention, I claim :is new und desire to secure by Letterzs` lutent- 1. The weighted piroted block l, provided with the pivoted hey-hole f und th l entrlmi.

in combination with the sliding` tumbler or tu1nblers]),lmving the notch or notches d', und with the key (l, substantially :1s und for thc purpose set t'orth.

2. A lock formed ot' thc combination ot' the l casing B, the swinging bolt, A a, having the l tuil projection al und the opening a2, the Slidl ing tumblers I), provided with the notches I l 11', und the pivotedeatcleblock E, all arranged l to operate iu eoinbiuution with the spindle cmu (l c and by the force of gravity, subi stuutinlly ns und for the purpose set forth.

GEO. SNELL.

\\'itnesse.

Iown. L. SNHLL. S. J. l. iAwLiNo. 

